So, like many Bongos, my roof tent fixing strip was starting to become detached from the roof shell. The tent is secured with a series of screw fixings holding the edging strips inside the roof shell, and these screw into an inserted nut in a socket in the roof itself. Except over time, with the weight of the tent pulling, especially in windy conditions, these fixings start to detach, usually by pulling the metal nut from the socket in the plastic roof. As they loosen further, a gap appears at the top of the tent, and more strain is placed on fewer fixings, so more likely to lead to an eventual catastrophy!
Not good!!
I had tried a fix before, using an epoxy glue, however I needed to have another go, so I bought Gorilla Epoxy, which claims to set in 5 minutes, and is ideal for “the toughest jobs on planet Earth”!! I mixed up a small batch, part-raised the roof, and crawled inside to see if I might get to the fixings. I concentrated on one side to begin with, and using a lollipop stick, I carefully pushed some glue into the sockets on the roof shell, or as much as I could, as this was extremely awkward to reach. Working quickly, concious of the time before setting, I pushed the fixings back into their sockets, then wedged the roof up on one side using a telescopic walking pole. I used the weight of the roof to put pressure on the joint, which made the roof lie at a strange angle for a time, but it was only until I thought the glue was starting to set, so I took a chance.
After 10 minutes or so, and mixing up a further small batch of the two-part glue, I carefully released the walking pole…..everything stayed put! I now worked the glue into the other side’s fixing sockets, and repeated the wedging operation with the pole. From outside the roof looked alarmingly over to one side, but there wasn’t any damage to anything, and this was using gravity to force the joint together, forming a better fusion with metal and epoxy. Another 10 minute wait, and I gently eased off the pole to see the result….perfect!! I replaced the pole, and used a second one to re-pressure the first repair, and left both for a further hour, just to be sure everything was set.
I released both makeshift props, and, voila!! A much improved roof tent, with no gaps above the rail on either side.
So, never fear, if your roof tent is starting to part company with the roof shell, get hold of some Gorilla Glue Epoxy, and a couple of adjustable props like my walking poles ( which are ideally suited, as not only can they be adjusted, but the tip fits into the screw head, keeping it from sliding around top end, and the rubber grip sticks well to the roof board!) and have a go. The first time I repaired the tent, I had the roof all the way up. This part-way up position was much better, and although access is a bit awkward, it allows for the weight of the roof shell to pressurise the repair.
Another wee job off the list, ready for some post-lockdown adventures!!
One last tent related job was a quick spray with some reproofing agent, in this case fabsil, as the canvas had started to “wet out”, meaning the inside becomes damp with exposure to prolonged heavy rain. A liberal spray and wipe with the tent reproofing agent, repeated for good measure, should see us through another season or two.
Right! When and where are we off again?!
Ali Bongo's adventures 